Hi everyone! Welcome to my website

This week, my fourth novel THE SUPPER CLUB came out! It's published by Hodder & Stoughton (paperback £6.99) and is about four friends who meet once a month over the course of a year, to have supper at each other's houses. The plot centres around what happens in between the supper parties and at them.

This is what it says on the back of the cover:

Take four couples and stir gently!

Once a month, Lucy and her friends take turns to have a supper party at different homes. It's a great way to meet up and make new acquainances.

Naturally, nothing goes quite to plan. Lucy's sister is allergic to her blind date. Best friend Maggie turns up unexpectedly at the same time as her cheating ex and his new girlfriend.

Chrissy loses her appetite when an old flame arrives, just as her husband is uncorking the wine. And Lucy can't quite get rid of Luke's ghost,still sitting at the head of the table.

Will everyone get their just deserts?

And whose kitchen is this, anyway?

I've had some lovely reviews already! So far, I've been in:

• The Daily Mirror
• Closer magazine
• Woman's Weekly
• My Weekly
• Fiction Feast.
• Heat magazine

START A SUPPER CLUB IN YOUR AREA!

Why not start a supper club with your friends? Get a group together and agree to meet on a certain day every month. I'll give away a free copy of one of my books if you write and tell me about it. email janebidder@btinternet.com.

OTHER NOVELS

Do look out for my other novels:

• THE SCHOOL RUN about different characters on the same route to school
• MUMS@HOME about parents who get addicted to a web site
• SECOND TIME LUCKY about neighbours starting life after divorce and other life changes.

This is what reviewers have said about my books:

• 'An absorbing feel-good read - I really enjoyed it.' - Penny Vincenzi
• 'A feel-good, entertaining read' - Essentials.
• 'A lovely debut - warm and engaging.' - Catherine Alliott
• 'There is a lot for women to relate to here.' - Katie Fforde
• 'A funny new novel.' - Mail on Sunday
• 'Funny and moving...captures the love, pain andhumour of being a parent.' - Bella

WIN ONE OF MY NEW NOVELS!

Send my your email and I will enter you into a draw for one of my novels every month. email janebidder@btinternet.com and write SOPHIE KING COMPETITION in the subject section.

FUTURE EVENTS

Come and meet me at the following events:

• Waterstones Amersham. Saturday September 27th 11am
  
• Waterstones, Midsummer Place, Milton Keynes (main centre near Debenhams) on Saturday October 18th from 12.30 - 1.30
  
• Sheffield, St Mary's Community Centre, Bramall Lane, Sheffield. Saturday October 25th from 9.30
  
• Corbetts Bookshop, Tring, Herts. 11am. Saturday November Ist
  
• Chesham Bookshop, Chesham, Bucks. Saturday November 8th at 11am to 2pm.
  
• Chorley Wood Bookshop Saturday November 22nd from 11am to 1pm.
  
• Borders, Silverlink, Newcastle Saturday 29th November at 4pm

ABOUT ME

Sophie King is the pen name for journalist Jane Bidder. She is the author of the best-selling novels The School Run and Mums @ Home, both of which are published by Hodder & Stoughton in paperback, £6.99.

Sophie King's books are aimed at teenagers, mums and grans or anyone else who can identify with a chaotic family life. Sophie has three children, a dog, a cat and a sleepy terrapin – all of whom make her laugh or cry, depending on how she feels.

Sophie has a pen name to distinguish her novels from her journalism. As Jane Bidder, she has written for The Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Express, The Daily Mail, Woman, Woman’s Weekly, My Weekly, Good Housekeeping and many other national publications.

She has interviewed several big celebrities including her childhood hero David Essex, Michael Palin, Penny Vincenzi, Deborah Moggach, Julie Walters, Nigel Havers, Carolyn Quentin, Lord Lichfield, Martina Cole, Linda Robson, Lesley Joseph, Barbara Taylor Bradford and countless others.

Sophie also writes short stories and teaches creative writing at Oxford University and privately.

ONLINE COURSES

NEW! Online tutorial course now available for both short stories and novels, covering characterisation, dialogue, viewpoint and ideas etc. The course consists of eight modules and can be taken over eight months. £200 (which includes marking).

I also give individual advice on manuscripts (both full and partial).

For more information, email janebidder@btinternet.com

LATEST NEWS

Look out for Sophie's new non-fiction book on how to write short stories. 'HOW TO WRITE SHORT STORIES FOR MAGAZINES' by Sophie King is now available and is published by How To Books. From most bookshops and also Amazon.

Sophie King is also available as a speaker and creative writing workshop leader (for adults and in schools). This year, she led workshops at Winchester Literary Festival and also Gerards Cross Festival.
Sophie King also offers a manuscript appraisal service. She will look at your novel and/short stories to provide help with structure, characterisation and plot etc. She can also give advice on how to get published.

AWARDS

Sophie King was runner up in the Harry Bowling Award 2002 and the winner of the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Elizabeth Goudge Award in 2004. She was also shortlisted for the World One Day Cup Novel.